Campaigners are looking forward to debating the new MP for Bath as they fight for improved air quality and tackle the city's congestion.

The Bathampton Meadows Alliance, which has opposed a park and ride on Bathampton Meadows, has congratulated Wera Hobhouse on her election, after the Liberal Democrat secured 23,426 votes in Bath on Thursday.

On Friday, alliance member Christine Boyd said: "We know that transport and in particular the deeply unpopular Bathampton Meadows park and ride was an issue in this election. And we hope that (Thursday's) result will focus everyone's minds on now working together to develop the best solution, not for one particular political party or another, but for Bath.

"From the outset, Wera Hobhouse has also been an ardent supporter of our campaign to stop this foolhardy development on Bathampton Meadows and we are optimistic that she will be able to unite this beautiful city, and all its residents, in a proper informed debate about the best way forward."

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Bath and North East Somerset Council has long-backed the idea of an eastern Bath park and ride. In January, councillors gave their backing to the plans to push ahead with land west of Mill Lane as the preferred option.

But the land owner has refused to sell his land as the council eyes a 1,200 car park.

GV of Bathampton Meadows

An extra £500,000 was allocated in council funds to take things forward on top of the £1.1million already set aside for the existing work.

There was £9.1million in the 2016/17 budget and £12.5million from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Economic Development Fund ringfenced for a park and ride - taking spending to at least £23 million.

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The local authority does have the option of building an 800-space car park on land east of Mill Lane, which it owns.

Former Bath MP Ben Howlett had also been in favour of a park and ride on the meadows.

Via social media, campaigner Gill Kirk asked Mrs Hobhouse "how she will she work with the council on huge local issues of concern like library, meadows, arts cuts and cable car?"

The Bath MP replied with how she will work with a Conservative-run council.

She said: "It’s always very important to understand who makes the decision.

"The decision on many of these local issues lie with the council group. That doesn’t mean that I can’t persuade, talk, make sure that they consider everything that I hear and the people come to me.

"But in the end council decisions are council decisions and I think it would be very unwise if I came in and waded in to think that they should do something that I believe in, if in the end it’s their decision.

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"All these things are dialogues, conversations that you need to have and find a good way forward that suits as many people as possible and don’t railroad stuff through only because you originally thought it might be a great idea."